Page:History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 1.djvu/303

 Bs. III. Ch. II. THEATRES. 271 lavished on the smaller objects, the temples hardly give a just idea of all that have perished. Theatres. In extreme contrast with the buildings last described, which were among the smallest, came the theatres, which were the largest, of the monuments the Greeks seem ever to have attempted. The annexed plan of one at Dramyssus, the ancient Dodona, will give an idea of their forms and arrangements. Its dimensions may 161. Plan of Theatre at Dramyssus. Scale 100 ft. to 1 in. be said to be gigantic, being 443 ft. across; but even this, though perhaps the largest in Greece, is far surpassed by many in Asia Minor. What remains of it, however, is merely the auditorium, and consists only of ranges of seats arranged in a semicircle, but without architectural ornament. In all the examples in Europe, the pro- scenium, which was the only part architecturally ornamented, has perished, so that, till we can restore this with something like cer^ tainty, the theatres hardly come within the class of Architecture as a fine art. In Asia Minor some of the theatres have their proscenia adorned with niches and columns, and friezes of great richness ; but all tliese projecting angles. Dolphins and various other objects have been suggested. My own conviction is that they were winged genii, most probably in bronze, and gilt like the neckings of the capitals.